Heel concaving machine



March 28, 1933. M W HOWARD i 1,902,855

HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed Deo. 1v, 1951 5 Sheets-$heet l l March 28, 1933. v M w HQWAD 1,902,855

v HEEL CNCAVING MACHINE Filed Deo. l, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

INVEN+DR1 March 28, 1933. M W, HOWARD y 1,902,855

HEEL CONGAVING MACHINE NVELN-I-DR:

AH-ys.-

Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT `ol-lucE I MERTON W. HOWARD, or LYNN, 1in/.issnkcnusn'r'rs,f Assienon 'ro'v Porn MACHINnRv CORPORATION, or HAVERHILL, MAssAcHUsnrrspncoRronA'rion or MAssA- cnUsETms `HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Application led December 1, 1931. Serial V1\lo.`5'8,251.

rihis invention relates to machines for concaving the seat of wood heels and, particularly, to machines of the general type described in a co-pending application of W'alter C. Brooks and John W. Staples,

Serial No. 379,918, led October 7, 1929.

Acutter to engage the edge of a seat of a heel while it is being moved over the cutter. A heavy arm is. pivotally mounted upon `the machine Aand is provided with two spaced surfaces substantially parallelv to the support between which slides a cam or pattern having a portion which corresponds substan` tially with the edge contourrformed by the back and sides of the heel seat. VThis cam carries a clampfor holding awood heel. rl`he cam is rotated while being guided to cause the heel to move through a predetermined path iirst along a portion of the path in engagement with Vthe cuttery and then along the remaining portion ofthe path to its initial position. A resilient pressure acts upon the heavy pivoted arm to maintain the edge of the seat of the heel in engagement with the heel guide while lthe heel is engaging the cutter. As the heel is returned toward its initial position, .the heel is ejected and the cam is stopped so that another heell may be placed in the clamp. After the clamp has been stopped and another heel placed in the clamp the foot pedal is actuated to operate a clutch and start the machine through another cycle.

Heretofore it has beeny common practice.

in operating concaving machines to stop the heel clamping mechanism after each heel has been concaved to permitk the removal of the heel. and more particularly, to allow the operator to insert another heel. In the machine described in the above mentioned copending application the ejection of the concaved heel is accomplished automatically while the clamp is still in motion but thev clamp comes to a stop to'permit re-loading and the machine must be started again by the operator to concave the next heel.

VThe starting of the machine, usually by a foot pedal, requires a ldefinite effort which in view of the large number of heels thesev machines handle ina day adds up to a considerable expenditure of energy, as well as requiring close attention tothe timing of the machine in order to obtain maximum production. It is well established that close attention increases fatigue. by stopping and starting the machine at the end andV beginning of each cycle of operation amounts to about 25 percent of the time requiredk to complete each cycle, varying according to the Askill of the operator.

In accordance with the present invention, the heel holding and moving mechanism is not stopped' at ,the end of each cycle to permit ejection of the heel or the insertionl of;

16.0 The time lost another heel'. O n thecontrary, the heel holdjl ing and moving mechanism is moved continuously, irstthrough a range wherein the heel is concaved, then .through a rangeV wherein the heel is ejected, and, thereafter, through a loading range wherein another` heel is insertedin the heel holding mechanism. A loading mechanism is provided which operates automatically to move a heel into the heel holding mechanism asthe lat-f.'

ter is moving through the loading range and` 'y then returns to its inoperative initial position well away from the cutter or other moving parts of the machine so that the operator may insert a heel therein.

lost due to starting and stopping the machine thereby increasing production by about 33%, percent. This saving, in practice, is increased further due to thelessened fatigue of the operator. Inasmuchasy the loading'mechanism of the invention operates to insert a heel in the heel holding mechanism and returns to ltsinltial position at a point well away from the cutter 4or other moving parts of the machine in a time interval which 1s about 25. percent ofthe time required for the heel holding mechanism to move through a complete cycle, the operator has about v7 5 percentof the time required for .85 rlhe present invention eliminates the time insert the new heel into the clamp immediately after the concaved heel has been ejected and while the clamp is moving at full speed toward the cutter.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description inconjunction with the accompanying drawings: in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of a machine embodying the invention Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken upon the lines 2-2 and 3 3 respectively of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a Fig. 5' is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts ina different position. 1

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings,rsince the invention is capable of 'other embodiments and of being practised or V'carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation,

and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended as considered in view of the prior art and the requirements thereof.

The construction of the machine illustratedin the accompanying drawings is similar 'to that of the machine illustrated in the above mentioned co-pending application and comprises a frame 10 carrying a stationary support 11. A cutter 12 extends upwardly through a slot 14 in the support 11 andV is carried by a shaft 15 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings (not shown). A heel guide 16 is adjustably mounted in any suitable manner upon the support 11 and extends over the slot 14 adjacent the edge of the cutter 15. The shaft 15 is rotated from any suitable source of power (notshown) to rotate thecutter 12.

'A heavy arm 20 carried upon the frame 10 is provided at its free end with spaced shelves 21 and 22 substantially parallel to the support 11 and between which a cam or pattern 23 is slidably mounted. Preferfragmentary detail sectional Vview of a portion of the machine; and

ably, the arm 20 is pivotally mounted on the frame and is urged towards a stop by a heavy spring as described in theabove mentioned co-pending application. The cam 23.

is formed with a body portion 25 having a continuous Vwall 26 extending upwardly from the edgel thereof. Teeth 27 are provided near the bottom of the outer surface Aof the wall 26 and are adapted to engage a pinion 29 `carried by a shaft 30` rotatably the inner surface of the wall 26 and pivote ally' mounted'near the end of theV lever 34. The lever 34 is pivotally mountedA at an `intermediate point uponv the arm 20 and isconnected at'its other end to one end of a spring 35, the other end of which is secured to 'a bolt (not shown) adjustably mounted upon the arm 20. l I

A member 40 is fixed to the lower end of a stud 41 depending from the body portion 25 of the cam 23 through a slot 44 in the shelf 22. The member 40=is provided with a bevelled tongue 45 adapted to be received in a similarly shaped guideway in a slide 46.

A bevelled tongue 47 depends fromthe slide 46 and is adapted to be received in a similarly shaped guideway carried by a slide 48. The bevelled tongues 45 and 47 are angularly disposed so that the slides 46and 48 mayy be adjusted, preferably, along perpendicular paths. Each of the vslides 46and 48 is held in any ydesired adjusted position, asby a yset screw 49.

Spaced rods 50 are suitablynsecured inY ears 51 extending laterally. from opposite sides of the-,slide 48 and extending downwardly therefrom toward the lsupport 11.

A bracket 52 extends between the rods 50 and is suitably securedV thereto. -A heel' gauge 53 is suitably mounted for adjustment in the bracket 52. A slide 55 is slidably mounted in suitable guideways 56 in the gauge 53 and its forward and rearward movement is limited by stops (not shown). A roll 58 is pivotally mounted at the rear end ofthe slide 55. The sidesfof the slide 55 are provided with high and low cam surfaces 59 and 60 adjacent the roll 58 and are adapted to be engaged by rolls 61 pivotally mounted upon one end of levers 62`pivotally carried by the rods 50. A heel engaging clamp 64 is adjustably mounted on the other end of each of the levers-62. A rod 66is slidably mounted in each of a pair of spaced bushings 67 pivotally mounted upon the bracket 52. One end of each of the rods 66 is provided with a bearing 68 pivotally engaging a pin 69 on the slide 55. A spring 70'surrounds each of the rods 66 with one end engaging the bushing 6 7 and its other end engaging the bearing 68. 4A pair of springs 72 connect the levers. 62 and the bushings 67. A-roll'7 3 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 74 extending between and suitably secured upon the rods 50. i

An arm 75. is iixed upon a shaft 76 carried by a bracket 77 extending laterally f :fromy the arm 20. The arm is fixed in adconnected at one end of the arm 80and the other end of which is connected to a screwA (not shown) adjustably mounted in the end of the arm 75. A projection 84 extends from,

the lower side of the other end of the arm 80 and is positioned inthe plane ofmovement of the roll 58 carried by the lslide 55 and isadapted to swing beneath the roll 7 3.

A bracket 85 is suitably secured to the slide 48, as by bolts 86, and carries a roll 87. A slide 88 is slidably mounted in guideways 89 suitably secured upon the support 11, as

by screws 90.. `A screw .91 is swivelled in bearing 92 carried by the support 11 and is adapted to engage a lug 93 fixed upon the slide 88. The slide 88 is ixediin its adjusted position by abolt 94 passingvthrough a slot 95 in the support lland engaging thev slide 88. An actuating armin the `forr'n of a bell crank 96 is provided with a, hub 97 which is pivotally mounted upona bolt 98 carried by the slide 88. One arm of the bell crank 96 extends into the path 0I" the roll '87.`

A lever 99 is provided .with a hub 100v which is pivotally mounted upon a bolt101 carried bythe slide 88. The'other end ofthe l Abell crank 96 is-provided-with a forkf102 fwhich is pivotally connected to trunnions 103 fixed in an enlarged portionof a rod V104. One end of the lever 99 lis provided with a fork 105 which is pivotally connected to trunnions 106 carried. by a sleeve 107 in which the rod 104 is slidably mounted. A spring 108 surrounds the rod 104 with `one end engaging the enlarged portion thereof and its other end engaging one end of the Y sleeve 107.' A sleeve 109 surrounds rodf104 with its inner end engagingthe other end of thesleeve 107 and its outer endengaging a -nut 110 threaded upon the freelend `of the rod 104. The lever 99 normally isheldin the position shown in Fig. 2 against a suitable.

cushioning deviceby a spring lll-surrounding the hub 100 and with one end secured to the lever 99 and its other endsecured to the head of the bolt 101. y V lThe cushioning device includes a plunge 112 slidably mounted within aV guide 113, such as cylinder having one endv closed,

forming'part ofi-a bracket 114 which lis suitably secured upon the support 11,as by screws 115. 4 urged toward the lever 99 by. a spr-ing 116 TheV plunger. 112 is normallyj surrounding the reduced end portionof the 1 Y plunger and engaging the `closed* end 117 ofl the guide. The otherfend of the plunger isv provided with asocket in which a block 120 of rubber or the like is secured. 4The `'closed end 117 of the guide 113 is provided .with an,`

air passage 121 controlledby a vneedle `,valve 122. A stop `400 is suitably fixed on the supl port 11 vand serves to limit the'inward movement of the plunger 112 when the latteris not in engagement with tliearn'1-99.` f

Tas n A rod 125 having a V-shaped end 126is adjustably mountedY in an opening in the free end of the lever 99 and is secured in 'ad- `justed position therein, as by a `bolt 127. f A

block is adjustably mounted upon the rod 125 and for this purpose is provided 'with 'anv opening adapted to receivethe rod 125. The block 130 is held in adjusted position upon the rod 125, asby'a set screw 131. The block 130 is provided with a guidewaym 132 adapted to `receive a slide 133 which is adjustablysecured therein by a bolt 134 passingthrough a slot 135inrthe'slide 133V and engagingthe block 130. j A spring leaf 136I is suitably secured'at` oneendto the up-` per end of the slide 133 and extends therefrom above the rod 125 so as vto engagethe bottom of lahe'el W'positionedjinthe V- i Vshaped end 126 of the 'rod 125.

The operator places a heel W in the V- shaped end 126 and'beneath thespring 136 as'shvownin Figs. 2 and 4.` Power isthen supplied from lany suitable source to rotate the cutter 12 andthe pinion l29 con-l v tinuously causing the cam 234 to bfi-rotated between the shelves 21V and 22. The rotationof the cam 23 vcauses the roll 87 carried i by the bracket 85 to engage the free end of the bell crank 96'to turn the 'same and cause it to exert aresilient orceitending to` turn the lever 99. 'This movement of 'the lever 99 from' its initial position as shown in Fig.

'2,' movesthe heelW into'engagemen't with y1 the' slide 55 to movethewlatter rearwardly-V .Asl the slide 55 moves rearwardly the rolls 6l' carried by thearnis 62'm`o've from-fthe lowcamv surfaces `59 to the high cam 'surfaces 60 and cause the `clamps64gto move thesame 'against the support 11.v i 1 e 'Whenj the roll 87 vhas `moved 'out ofen-V Y into 'engagement' with V the Aheel WV and vhold *l ygag'ement withthe bell crank 96, the spring *i `111 `acts to Vreturnthe lever 99 tofits initial ingposition theroll gengages the arm 80 to j position in engagement with ,the plungerY Vthenfthrough the heel loading range.V As the heel holding clamp approaches theheel loadswing the latter rearwardly against the actionof the spring 82. y When the roll 73 rides offthe end of the arm 80, the arm 8O is swungl f forwardly by the actionv of the spring 82 to 1tiring lthe projection 84 into .engagement j with-the roll 58 to move the slidey 5.5 foi).-

wardly. v As-the slide' 55 moves forwardly Vthe rolls 61 move from the high cam surfaces 60,130 the, low cam surfacesvlto permit the springs 72 to separate-the vclamps '64? and permit the slide 55y to eject the heel. Immediately thereafter the roll 87 again comes in engagement lwith the bell crank` 96 to move the same and-to cause another heel, which the operator has placed he- Ytween the spring`136 and Vthe ii-shaped end 126, to be moved into the open clamp while the cam 23 carryingthe same is being moved along its predetermined path through the Y loading range,

Iclaim:Y 1 i c .1. A machine for. concav-ing heels having, incombination, a cutter, means for holding a heel including a heel clamp, means for movingthelieel holding means continuously through fa predetermined' path'. VVwhich path includes a heel; cutting range, a heel ejecting range -and a. heel loading range, means operative to open Asaid clamp and eject vthe heel while thev heelholding means is moving through thel ejectingv range, and means to vmove a heel into said open clamp, and closerthe clamp vwhile the li-eel holding means is moving through rthe heel loading range. j v 1 2. A machine for concaving heels having, in combination, a cutter, means Vorliolding a'heel including a heel clamp', meansv for moving the heel holding means continuously vthrough Y a .predetermined rpath which path includes a heel cutting range, a heel ,j eject the heel while the heel holding means is moving through Athe ejecting range', and

ejectingwrange and a' heel loading` r'ange,

means operative vto Vopen saidV clamp and means to move. a 'heelrintosaid open clamp andclose the clamp whilethe heel holding Vvmeansis moving through theheel loading f range, including anactuating arm extend- VVe5 ing into the-pathgoi movement oit-said heel` holding means.,

l' 3 A machine for concaving heels. .hav-

ing throughthe:ejecting range, a movabley `member ormoving va heel into said open clamp vand to.v actuate ysaid mechanism to close the clamp, and means for actuating said member as `the heel holding means is moving i'ihrough` its'v loadingrange. I lip-VA.A machine for concaving ieels having, fin comhinatiomfa cutter, meansy tor holding heel'including a heel clamp, iiieaiisor moving the heelyholding means eontinuouslythrough a predetermined path which path includes a heel cutting range, a i

heel ejeeting rangeandy a .heel loadingk range, mechanism adapted ton open v,said

clamp andv eject a heel and tofclose,y said clamp, means operative to actuate said mechanism, to open said clamp and eject a heel while ,the heel holding means is moving through the ojecting range, a movable member 'for movingV a heel into said open clamp and to actuate. said mechanism to close the clamp, means for actuating said meinheras the vheel holding means is movingthrough its loading range, means forV returning said member, to tion,` and 'means for stopping said member including a resilient cushion adapted to engage'the same as it approaches its` initial positiongj'f .y

v5 Al inachinertor concaving heels having,

`incombination,` a cutter, means for holding a heelrincluding a heel clamp, `means for moving the Aheel holding means continuouslyV7 through-'a predeterminedpath which path includesa heelcutting range, a heelejecting range and a heel vloading rangepmechanism adapted to `open said clampand eject arheel and yto closesaid clamp, means operativelto -actuate said mechanism' to lopen said clamp and `eject a heel while the heel holding .v

means is moving through theej ecting range,

its initialr posiice movable vmember.loi,moving a lheel into i vsaid vopen clamp rand,tofactuate said mechanism to close the clamp, means for moving said member toward its initial k.posit-ion, means` adapted to engage said member as it approaches 'its' initial Y 'position and effective,

to,A reduce the spe d otmovement of said member soas to'` bring it` to a complete stop at its initial position without/rebound.

6. machine for concaving .heels having,

in combination, a cutter, meansi'or holding,

a heel*- including a.- heelv clamp, means for moving the heel `rvholding.means ,continuously i Q range and a heel loading range, mechanism adapt-ed to open said clamp and eject a heel Y and to close said clamp, means operative to actuate saidV mechanism to open said clamp and eject a heel While the heel holding means is moving through the ej ecting range, a movable member for moving a heel into said open clamp and to actuate said mechanism to close the clamp, an actuating mem.-

ber extending into thepath of movement ofy saidV heel holding means, means for connecting said members, means for returning said members to their initial positions, and a cushion adapted to enga-ge one of said members as saidmovablemember approaches its initial position. c

7. A machine for concaving heels having, in combination, a cutter, vmeans for holding a heel including a heel clamp, means for moving the heel holding means continuously through a predetermined path which path includes a heel cutting range, a heel ejecting range-and a heel vloading range, mechanism adapted to open said clamp and eject a heel and to close said-clamp, means operative to actuate said mechanism to open said clamp and eject the heel While the heel holding means is moving throughl the ejecting range, and adjustable means for moving a heel into said open clamp and to actuate said mechanism to close the clamp While the heel holding means is moving through the heel loading range.

8. A machine for concaving heels having, in combination, a cutter, means for holding a vheel including a heelA clamp, means forV moving the heel holding means continuously through a predeterminedv path which path includes a heel cutting range, a heel ejecting range and a heel loading range, a support, a slide movable to engage the heel, Vconnections betvveen the slide and clamp operative upon movement of` the slide in one direction to clamp theheel and upon movement of the slide in the opposite direction to open the clamp to permit ejection of the heel, means operative as saidholding means moves through its ejecting range Vto move said slide Y to cause it to open the clamp and eject the Y heel, and means operative as the holding means moves through its loading range to move a heel into said open clamp to move said slide and cause said clamp to engage the heel.

9. A machine for concaving heels having,

in combination, a cutter, means for holding to actuate said mechanism to lopenV said clamp and eject the heel While the heel holding means is moving. through the ejecting range, andmeans to move a heel intosaid open clamp and to actuate ysaid mechanism to close the clamp; While the heel holdingA means is moving through the heel loading range, including a support, a slide ladjustably mounted on the support, a pair of arms 'each pivotallj7 mounted at any intermediate point upon said slide, one end of one of said arms extending into the path of movement of said holding means, one end of the other arm being arranged to move a heel into said open clamp', and resilient means operativelyV connecting the other ends of said arms. p

10. A machine for concaving heels having, in combination, a cutter, means for holding a heel including a heel clamp, means for moving the heel holdingmeans continuously through a predetermined path Which pathincludes a heel cutting range, a'heel ejecting range and a heel loading range,

eject a lheel and to close said clamp, means operative to actuate said mechanism'to open 1 said clamp and eject the heel While the heel A holding means ismoving through the ejectingrange, andrmeans to move a heel" into said open clamp and to actuate said `mechanism to close the clamp While the heelhold-v ing means is Vmoving through the heel loading range, including a support,l a` slide adjustably mounted on the support, a pair ofv arms leach pivotally mounted at an intermediate point upon saidslide, one end of one of said arms extending intol the path of movement of said holding means, one end of the other arm being arranged to move a heel into said open clamp, resilient means operatively connecting the other ends of said arms, means for returning saidarms'to their initial positions, and means eiiective during a short inal portion of the range of moveg Vment of the heel moving arm to offer an in# creasing resistance to the movement thereof as it approaches its initial position and stop the same at its bound.

Y In testimony whereof I aiX Ink signature.

MERTQN W. .H WARD; Y

adapted to open said ,clamp and eject a heel and to close said clamp,` means operative initial position Without re- 

